Quesnel’s G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital’s Community Oncology Clinic is sporting a new wall ornament with big meaning.
Thanks to the efforts of Dale and Denise Carlson, there’s a bell mounted on the wall, and when patients complete their chemotherapy treatments, they are invited to ring it.
When they first proposed the bell, there were mixed reactions from the staff, clinical practice lead Louann Lilley says.
“They were mainly concerned about palliative patients who would never get to ring the bell.”
However, Louann says she consulted with a few of those patients and they didn’t have a problem with the bell.
“They said they were happy to celebrate with other patients’ victories.”
The bell was installed, and on Sept. 14, Leslie Nolais was the first patient to ring Quesnel’s bell.
“It sent goose bumps up my arms,” Louann says. “Everyone was cheering and clapping. It was very emotional.”
Leslie has been undergoing treatment since January, so ringing the bell was a very powerful moment that marked the end of a long road.
After going through eight rounds of chemo and 20 rounds of radiation, Leslie says she was finally able to close the door to her battle the moment she rang the bell.
There were four other patients in the room who were undergoing treatment at the time, and Leslie says “I made sure everybody heard it. I mean, I rang it. I think it gives people hope.”
She adds that hearing the bell gives other patients a sense that their treatment will also end and it gives them something to look forward to.
Louann adds several patients already knew what the bell was for, as this type of bell is known worldwide.
There have been two more bell-ringings in the cancer clinic and each time it’s very emotional, she notes.
One patient was somewhat reluctant to ring the bell, but was encouraged by her family, Louann says. She rang the bell and said she felt better for having done it.
“For many patients, they are facing more treatments, so ringing the bell at the end of their chemo treatments is such a celebration.
“The bell is a symbol of hope, strength and courage. It’s something to cheer about.”
She says ringing the bell is completely voluntary and no one must ring the bell. It’s up to the patient.
–With files from Nicole Field